Biblical Allusion Essay - 1788 Words

â€Å"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.†(Romans 3:23) The fall of man- it’s a common topic all throughout the Bible. Many allusions to this familiar Biblical theme are made in the war-time novel, A Separate Peace, by American author John Knowles. In this work, Knowles relates many of his experiences as a teenage boy attending boarding school during World War Two. He uses Biblical allusions to reveal much about human nature. In Genesis 4:3-5 the Bible says, â€Å"In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Able brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Now Cain said to his brother Able, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Able and killed him (Genesis 4:8)† These parallel incidents reveal much about human nature. When Gene is faced with the truth that he will never measure up to Phineas, his subconscious takes hold of him and he destroys the better man because he cannot cope with Finny’s unmatchable perfection. This act promulgates the truth concerning man’s will to survive. The fall of Adam and Eve is also quite concurrent with Gene’s fall in A Separate Peace. In Genesis, the Bible relates the story of Adam and Eve and their life in the garden of Eden. Eden was a beautiful place in which there was no sin or suffering and every need was met. God’s only stipulation was that the pair abstain form eating the fruit of a certain tree. Yet it seems, even this was too much to ask. Genesis 3:6 says: â€Å"When the woman saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he also ate it.† Yet, Adam and Eve’s sin was not without consequence. The Bible tells us that, â€Å"Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked; So they sewed fig-leaves together and made coverings for themselves.† Gene’s sin had comparable results. After he shook Finny from the tree, his life changesShow MoreRelatedBiblical Allusions in Lord of the Flies2536 Words   |  11 Pagesthat stove of my own accord. And of course, it all went down from there. My inward desire to be stubborn and selfish was expressed though disobeying my parents- In the end, I got burned. Similarly, in Sir William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, biblical allusions are used to give additional meaning and depth to the book and to show the ways in which humans transfer their inner evil into outward behavior. Evil doesn’t begin from the outside world; instead it begins in the core of human beings. TheRead MoreBiblical Allusion During The Romantic Age1453 Words   |  6 Pages Biblical allusion during the Romantic Age was not uncommon. Because Biblical images and references were in the minds of most Romantic readers, a poet would often use this strategy to contextualize an assertion being made. Wordsworth is no different. However, the level to which he uses this technique within his poetry fluctuates. The Ruined Cottage only contains two obvious examples, while Michael is rich with Biblical imagery and allusion. Because of this difference, the Biblical allusion withinRead MoreEssay on Biblical Allusions in Lord of the Flies727 Words   |  3 PagesBiblical Allusions in Lord of the Flies In the story, Lord of the Flies, there are many biblical allusions; Simon represents Jesus, the pig’s head represents Satan or rather their satanic sides, Jack represents Judas, and the island represents the Garden of Eden. Through out this novel these allusions play large parts in the story and ideals place in the story. Simon, one of the major characters in the story, is set as the allusion of Jesus. Christ always had an affinity with children; inRead MoreBiblical Allusions: Golding ´s Lord of the Flies884 Words   |  4 PagesIn many classic novels, authors use biblical allusions to highlight a certain character or situation. By using biblical allusions, authors can help the reader better understand what it is that they want to convey through their literary work. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Golding utilizes symbolism of places and characters to allude to the Bible. Out of the many references, four significant biblical allusions – title of the novel, Simon, beast, and the island itself – emphasize Golding’sRead MoreBiblical Allusions to The Grapes of Wrath Essay example1457 Words   |  6 PagesBiblical Allusions to The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902. He studied marine biology at Stanford University and then traveled east on a freighter through the Panama Canal. Steinbeck went to New York to work as a newspaper reporter but soon returned to California and held a variety of jobs while he wrote. Steinbeck published Tortilla Flat in 1935, Of Mice and Men in 1937, and The Red Pony in 1937, which established his reputation as a forcefulRead MoreBiblical Allusion In The Poisonwood Bible908 Words   |  4 Pages Biblical Allusion In The Poisonwood Bible In The Poisonwood Bible, written by Barbara Kingsolver, the aspect of biblical allusion is clearly present throughout the majority of the novel. For example, one of the most conspicuous allusions to the Bible is the way that Kingsolver has purposely named some of the main characters in her book after different people and images in the Bible. Kingsolver uses this biblical allusion to develop important themes, events, and characters in her novel. KingsolverRead MoreBiblical Allusions in The Magicians Nephew952 Words   |  4 Pagesallegories teaching integrity, self-control and wisdom and is mostly composed of biblical allusions. A biblical allusion is to use a reference from the bible to communicate a hidden meaning. You could compare your best friend to Jonathan, King David’s loyal friend in the books of Samuel. You could also illustrate faith through the strength of the disciples as they remained faithful even in persecution. Many biblical allusions can be found here in â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew†. The problems of the main charactersRead MoreBiblical Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath1796 Words   |  8 Pagestakes part in the novel as one whole allusion. The anecdote of the struggle for survival in the fallen state of Oklahoma and in the â€Å"promised land† of California, reveals the same ideas shown as we explore in the bible. In The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck integrates the allegory of biblical references and values to create the image of a family’s journey to California during the Dust Bowl of the early 1900s. Initially, we examine the use of biblical allegories through the metaphor of CaliforniaRead MoreBiblical Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath1717 Words   |  7 Pagesbible takes part in the novel as one whole allusion. The story of struggle for survival in the fallen state of Oklahoma and in the â€Å"promised land† of California, reveals the same ideas shown as we explore in the bible. In The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck integrates the allegory of biblical references and values to create the image of a family’s journey to California during the Dust Bowl of the early 1900s. Initially, we see the use of biblical allegories through the metaphor of CaliforniaRead MoreBiblical Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath1633 Words   |  7 Pagespieces is religion. The religious aspects of his stories are primarily shown through subtle connections to Biblical characters along with other hints. The most prominent piece of literature that displays religious connections is his novel The Grapes of Wrath. For the duration of the story, religion helps sustain the characters of the novel from difficult times. His novel contains numerous Biblical references that are conveyed through the characters of the Joad family along with Jim Casy; Steinbeck wants